Fragrance device

ABSTRACT

A fragrance-emitting device for the release of fragrances or other volatile materials, e.g. insecticides employing the heat of a light bulb, comprising a hollow container filled with a fragrance-containing material; the hollow container having a central orifice permitting the container to be fitted over the light bulb.

This invention is concerned with a device for emitting a fragrance or other volatile substance using a heat source consisting of a light bulb.

Room air-freshener devices are known that consist of a ring of fragrance-containing material which is engaged on and around a light bulb and which emits fragrance when heated by heat from the light bulb.

Special heat-resistant materials have been employed in the manufacture of such devices to avoid problems associated with the high temperatures at a light bulb's surface. Typically such materials have included cellulose and asbestos. However, devices made from such materials are brittle and prone to fracture, and the latter material at least is associated with unreasonable health hazards.

More recently it has been suggested to make such devices from special heat-resistant polymers (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,737). Devices described therein consist of a polymeric ring, spaced apart from the surface of a light bulb; and feet extending radially inward of the ring in the direction of the light bulb and adapted to engage the surface of light bulb in order to support the ring in spaced relationship to the light bulb. Such a device is said to be capable of emitting fragrance to a room for up to 1 month.

However, the are problems associated with this device: Given that the ring is both the carrier for the fragrance and the body providing support for the device, the polymer has to be selected not only for its ability to contain high amounts of fragrance materials and be capable of releasing the fragrance at a desirable rate, it must also have requisite heat-resistant qualities to ensure that its mechanical properties are not compromised at the high temperatures experienced near a light bulb, such that it remains mechanically self-supporting during use. Still further, the device is of relatively complex construction and, as the patentee points out, requires special machinery to insert the feet into the ring immediately after it is formed by injection moulding.

We have now found a fragrance-emitting device employing heat from a light bulb which does not have the disadvantages of the prior art.

Accordingly, the invention provides in one of its aspects a fragrance-emitting device (hereinafter “device”) for the release of fragrances or other volatile materials employing the heat of a light bulb, comprising a hollow container filled with a fragrance-containing material, the hollow container having a central orifice permitting the container to be fitted over the light bulb.

The device has many advantages. Given that a separate container provides support for the fragrance-containing material, the fragrance-containing material may be selected purely on criteria related to its ability to hold large amounts of fragrance and to release the fragrance at a desirable rate of a prolonged period of time. Furthermore, the container is of relatively simple construction and may be manufactured by simple moulding and filling operations.

In one embodiment, the device may simply consist of the hollow container with the central orifice dimensioned such that when the container is placed over a light bulb, the wall defining the central orifice abuts the surface of the light bulb and is thereby supported on the light bulb.

However, in a more preferred embodiment there is provided a free-standing device wherein the container is supported on a base member, which base member stands on a suitable surface, for example the surface of a table. In such an embodiment, the base member may consist of a hollow body, having an upper surface for supporting a light bulb, and defining an internal cavity which may be provided with suitable electronic circuitry for powering the light bulb that is supported on the upper surface of the base member. The light bulb may be supported on the upper surface by any conventional fixing means, e.g. screw fitting or bayonet fitting. Preferably, such a free-standing device is portable, that is, it can be moved around a room into any desired location. In such a preferred embodiment, the power may be supplied by a battery located within the internal cavity, or the light bulb may be connected to a plug via a flex passing through the base member.

Accordingly the invention provides in one of its embodiments a fragrance-emitting device for releasing fragrances or other volatile materials employing the heat from a light bulb, comprising:

-   -   a hollow container, filled with a fragrance-containing material,         and having a central orifice; and     -   a base member, the upper surface of which is adapted with         electrical connection means to receive a light bulb such that         the light bulb projects upwardly from said upper surface,     -   wherein the hollow container sits on the base member supported         by the upper surface of the base member, and the light bulb is         accommodated within the central orifice.

To mimic the flickering effect of a candle and thereby enhance the aesthetics of the device, the electronic circuitry may be adapted to provide, for example an oscillating voltage or provide a random switch between two or more voltages to cause the filament of the light bulb to flicker. Other features may be built into the circuitry to permit, for example, the light to switch on a pre-timed intervals or to respond to other external stimuli, such as a switch that is sensitive to movement or to reduced levels of ambient light.

The hollow container may be of any desirable shape, although typically it may be cylindrical to mimic the more common form of fragranced candles. The central orifice, may also be of any desired shape although, if the wall of the container defining the orifice must abut the light bulb for support, e.g. when the device is to be attached to a light bulb suspended from a ceiling, the orifice must be of the appropriate dimensions for achieving this purpose.

The central orifice may extend completely through the hollow container giving the latter the appearance of a collar or ring. This orifice configuration is necessary for devices designed to be attached to light bulbs suspended from ceilings, but it may be employed in any device of the present invention.

The hollow container may be provided with one or more vent-holes to permit ambient air to contact the fragrance-containing material and to allow egress of volatilised fragrance from the container. Where the viscosity of the fragrance containing material is low such as to permit it to flow out of the vent holes, the vent holes may be covered with a semi-permeable membrane that will permit egress of volatiles but will prevent the unwanted leakage of the fragrance containing material.

The container may be made of any material that is stable at the high temperatures at or near the surface of a light bulb. By “stable” is meant that the material will not crack or melt, nor will it deform or lose its ability to support its own weight and support the fragrance containing material. Suitable materials may be selected from glass, ceramics and those heat-resistant polymers known in the art. Preferably the container is formed of translucent or transparent material to exploit the aesthetics of the light source.

The hollow container may be supplied separately from the remainder of the device, for example as a refill. As such, the container may be provided with a peelable strip or coating covering the vent holes to prevent evaporation of the fragrance during storage, the coating or strip being adapted to be torn off prior to insertion of the container onto the base member of the device.

The fragrance-containing material may be chosen from materials that have a large capacity for fragrances and/other volatile materials, e.g. insecticides, and which release these materials at a desired rate when heated by a light bulb. Such materials may be selected from a wide range of polymeric materials known for this purpose. However, it is preferred to employ gels, e.g. those gels that have long been known as release media for fragrances or other volatile materials. Gels have very high capacity for holding fragrance and/or other volatiles, e.g. they may contain from about 1% up to about 90% or more of fragrance and volatiles, and are capable of releasing these volatiles at a controlled rate over long periods, e.g. 1 month or more. It is a feature of the present invention that these excellent release media may be employed in the present device. Such gels could not be employed in prior art devices as a ring made of gel would at least deform and would probably melt such that the ring could no longer support itself on the light bulb.

Particular gels that may be employed in the present invention are carrageenans, a naturally occurring family of carbohydrates isolated from red seaweed. A typical example is Danagel F 9254 obtainable from FMC Biopolymer, UK. However, other types of gel known for use in air-freshener devices may be employed in a device according to the present invention, for example starches, certain amide polyacrylamides and carboxymethylcellulose. As it is desirable to exploit the aesthetics of a light source, clear gels may be employed, for example gelatine, polysaccharides and other specific polymer systems, for example those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,780,527.

For a better understanding of the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawing and descriptive matter that sets forth a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a stand-alone portable device. The device comprises a base member (1) the upper surface of which is provided with a recess (2) for receiving a light bulb (3). The recess is equipped with electrical connections (4,5) corresponding to connections on the light bulb. Depending on the type of light bulb fitting, e.g. screw or bayonet, the precise orientation of these connections will vary. The base member has internal wires, the first of which (6) runs from the connector (5) to the on/off switch (7). A second wire (8) then runs to a connector (9) for a battery (10). A second battery connector (11) is attached to a wire (12) which returns to the other electrical connector (4). The base member also has holes (13) to allow air to pass into the cavity and through the recess (2) up past the light bulb (3). On the upper surface of the base member there is provided a raised wall (14) adapted to receive in releasable engagement a gel(15)-containing hollow container (16). The base member is a re-usable portion of the device. The hollow container (16) is provided with a central orifice (17) which is adapted to receive the light bulb (3). The vent holes (18) permit egress of fragrance or other volatiles from the container when the device is in operation.

In use, a peelable strip (not shown) protecting the vent-holes (18) would be removed from the hollow container and the container attached to the base member. Secure attachment could be achieved by providing the container wall and the raised wall (14) with, for example co-operating threads, or with other co-operating releasable fixing means. The light bulb is switched on by means of the switch (7) and heat from the light bulb volatilises the fragrance which passes out of the vent holes to freshen the surrounding air. If a transparent container and fragrance-containing material are employed, the light from the light bulb would be visible and would mimic the light from a candle, thereby giving the appearance and ambience of a lighted scented candle. Once the fragrance is exhausted, the hollow container is simply removed from the base member and is replaced by a refill container. 

1. A fragrance-emitting device for releasing fragrances or other volatile materials employing the heat of a light bulb, comprising: a hollow container filled with a fragrance-containing material; the hollow container having a central orifice; and a base member, the upper surface of which is adapted with electrical connection means to receive a light bulb such that the light bulb projects upwardly from said upper surface, wherein the hollow container sits on the base member supported by the upper surface of the base member, and the light bulb is accommodated within the central orifice.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the base member contains therein a battery for supplying power to the light bulb.
 3. A device according to claim 2 wherein the light bulb is a flicker-bulb designed to imitate the flickering effect of a candle.
 4. (cancelled)
 5. A device according to claim 1 wherein the fragrance-containing material is a gel.
 6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the gel is translucent or transparent.
 7. A device according to claim 1 wherein the hollow container is provided with vent holes which permit egress of fragrance from inside the hollow container to the surrounding air.
 8. A device according to claim 1 wherein the hollow container is formed from translucent or transparent material.
 9. A process for the delivery of a fragrance or volatile material which comprises the step of: providing a fragrance-emitting device according to claim 1; and operating the device to emit to surrounding air a fragrance and/or an insecticide.
 10. A hollow container having a central orifice and filled with a fragrance-containing material, adapted for use with the fragrance-emitting device according to claim
 1. 